Given the combined salaries of Butler and Neal ($11.25 million) the deal almost surely had to center around Charlotte’s lone large, expiring contract: Ben Gordon. But Milwaukee would have little incentive to trade for Gordon alone, so it seems likely a sweetener would have to have been included for the Bucks to part ways to take on a bit more salary in Gordon ($13.2 million).

Charlotte’s first round draft pick in the 2014 draft is likely heading to the Chicago Bulls as apart of an older deal that landed Charlotte Tyrus Thomas, but the Bobcats will likely have two first round picks formerly belonging to the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers.

Woj didn’t divulge where this deal fell apart, but it seems most likely that it was in what Charlotte would send back to the Bucks.

Neal has long been rumored to be available, as his role in Milwaukee wasn’t as large as he hoped it would be prior to the season. His clash with Larry Sandersall but sealed his eventual departure.

Butler missed the last few games leading up to the All-Star break after spraining his left ankle and has expressed an interest in staying in Milwaukee to help rebuild, so his departure has seemed less imminent. But his veteran know how and potential usefulness, when combined with his expiring contract must make him at least somewhat attractive as a trade piece to a team like the Bobcats, trying to stay afloat in the playoff picture.

3 Comments

It’s been mentioned on Twitter but to make up for the difference in salaries(1.9m about)there has to be some sweetener for the Bucks. Can’t see a 2nd being enough and maybe Portland’s first wouldn’t be either(I’d likely do it but the Bucks may not). I don’t think CHA wants to give up DET’s 1st so we have a stalemate. The only way you make this deal(Bucks POV)is if you can’t dump Neal in any other deal.

While moving Gary Neal and Caron Butler for an expiring contract is ideal, I still wouldn’t mind seeing this type of deal get done…

Bucks’ guard Gary Neal and small forward Carlos Delfino for Nuggets’ Forward Anthony Randolph and point guard Andre Miller though I’m not sure if the costs even out in order to swing it.

This trade would allow the Bucks to cut short the time they’d be paying Carlos Delfino (2016) to a 2015 expiring contract (Andre Miller); plus, add another young and athletic PF-type player (Anthony Randolph) to the mix for the remainder of this season and next. It’ll also ensure that they have a veteran presence at the guard position next year (Andre Miller) which they seem to covet. The Nuggets’ will receive someone who can help sort of run the point in the short-term, has championship game experience, and shoots the 3-ball pretty well (Gary Neal); plus, it could help deepen their small forward position for next year in case Danilo Gallinari still isn’t 100% ready to contribute (Carlos Delfino)… not sure if that’s really a selling point for acquiring Delfino though.

I’d like to see what Andre Miller could do to help the Bucks on offense, and also to mentor Nate and possibly Brandon. It’s hard to believe he played in the 1998 NCAA championship game (I think), so I’m not sure how much he has left in his legs. He might be worth a try, though.